Posted on 01/30/2005 1:56:28 AM PST by ejdrapes
Conservative Christian leaders who played a key role in securing President George W Bush's re-election have given the White House an ultimatum over outlawing same-sex marriages. In an indication of tension among Mr Bush's backers, a new coalition of powerful Christian groups issued their warning last week in a letter to Karl Rove, the President's chief adviser. Mr Bush has said that "nothing will happen" for now on the proposed federal amendment leading to a constitutional ban on gay marriages. He did not mention the amendment in his inaugural address and the issue was not listed in the 10-point legislative agenda unveiled by Republican leaders in Congress last week. The Arlington Group, comprising some of the President's most important conservative backers, reacted by threatening to withhold much-needed support for one of his top domestic initiatives – overhauling America's pensions system – if he does not vigorously push their own political cause. "We couldn't help but notice the contrast between how the President is approaching the difficult issue of social security privatisation, where the public is deeply divided, and the marriage issue, where public opinion is overwhelmingly on his side," the leaked letter said. "Is he prepared to spend significant political capital on privatisation but reluctant to devote the same energy to preserving traditional marriage? "If so, it would create outrage with countless voters who stood with him just a few weeks ago, including an unprecedented number of African-Americans, Latinos and Catholics who broke with tradition and supported the President solely because of this issue." The debate was raging ahead of the annual State of the Union address on Wednesday, in which Mr Bush will outline plans to introduce personal investment accounts to part-fund pensions, reform America's complex tax code and curb soaring compensation claims. The Arlington Group has played a sharp political card in threatening to withhold support for social security reform. It is a priority for Mr Bush and Mr Rove, but several leading Republicans in Congress have questioned whether the system is heading for bankruptcy and needs a radical revamp, as the White House argues. Same-sex marriage was a key issue during the presidential election campaign, when 11 states backed local votes to ban it. Mr Bush drew strong support from conservative voters for backing a renewed attempt to pass a federal amendment that failed at its first attempt in the Senate last year. Shortly after the election, Mr Rove said that the President would place the proposed amendment at the top of his domestic agenda. To the Arlington Group's dismay, however, Mr Bush recently told the Washington Post that he would not aggressively lobby senators on the ban. He said that many believed that the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), an existing law, which allows states not to recognise gay marriages enacted in other states, was sufficient. "Senators have made it clear that so long as DOMA is deemed constitutional, nothing will happen," Mr Bush said. "I'd take their admonition seriously." In a further signal that he does not want to be bogged down in controversial social policies, Mr Bush has given little indication that he will pursue anti-abortion legislation. Thousands of protesters who gathered in Washington last week for the annual March for Life rally, were disappointed to receive only a telephone message of support from Mr Bush. Gary Bauer, the president of the conservative group American Values and a Republican presidential candidate in 2000, told The Sunday Telegraph last week: ``Many of us did a great deal to help with President Bush's re-election. One of the reasons we could motivate so many people was because of his strong stance on same-sex marriage." He said: "If the White House wants us to rally our troops like they need for social security reform, a subject on which our people are very divided, that is going to be very difficult if the President does not come out strongly in favour of the constitutional amendment." Mr Bauer said that many people, whom groups such as his persuaded to vote for Mr Bush, were from lower middle-class and working class families, and ethnic minorities. These, he said, were most worried about the introduction of stock market investments to the pensions system. Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, said that Mr Bush "remains very committed to a marriage amendment" and "was simply talking about a situation that exists in the Senate, not about his personal commitment or willingness to push this issue". At the recent Christian Inaugural Eve Gala, however, many guests at the black-tie party expressed frustration that the President in office was not the President Bush they had seen on the stump last autumn. James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family and one of the leaders of the Arlington Group, warned of future battles. "If Republicans do what they've done in the past, which is say, 'Thanks so much for putting us in power: now we don't want to talk to you any more', they will pay a serious price."Christians give Bush ultimatum to ban gay marriage
I think the states individually have already made their decisions.
Not very smart.
"The Arlington Group, comprising some of the President's most important conservative backers, reacted by threatening to withhold much-needed support for one of his top domestic initiatives – overhauling America's pensions system – if he does not vigorously push their own political cause."
That is disgraceful imo.
Political blackmail, and very unchristian.
I would consider the source of this story. Can the Telegraph be trusted?
I don't think this story would be worth lying about, but here are a few more sources
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=arlington+group&btnG=Search+News
This just shows that the President was smart enough to recognize gay marriage as an important vote getter but not something vital to our nation. He's dealing with the important issues and this isn't one of them, considering the States' power to control who gets a marriage license.
I like your concise comments. I can't think of the last time I disagreed with you, either. "Transparent" is right.
Yes, another good wedge issue for 08.
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